Roma hires Rudi Garcia as coach

The Associated Press

June 12, 2013 12:48 PM

The Associated Press

June 12, 2013 12:48 PM

Rudi Garcia has been hired to coach Roma, the club's fourth manager in two years under American ownership.

James Pallotta, Roma's president and a Boston Celtics minority owner, said Garcia "has proven to be a winner, and he has a great vision of football and we believe he comes in line perfectly with our plans for the future."

Garcia, given a two-year contract, has coached Lille for the past five seasons and led the team in 2011 to titles in both the French league and cup, earning French manager of the year.

The team said Wednesday the agreement was finalized in New York.

Pallotta leads a four-man group of Boston executives who are the first foreign majority owners of a Serie A club. The U.S. group's coaches included Luis Enrique in 2011-12, Zdenek Zeman at the start of last season and Aurelio Andreazzoli, who took over in February. Roma was sixth in Serie A and lost to city rival Lazio in the Italian Cup final.